LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in a shootout Monday night to improve to an NHL-best 9-0-1 on the season. Goals in regulation scored by Paul Cotter and William Carrier helped lift the Knights over Montreal at the Fortress.
Despite being heavily outshot 39-25 by the Canadiens, Vegas used a lights-out performance by their defensemen and in the crease to come out on top. The Canadiens' only score until the final minutes of the third period came on an accidental giveaway by goaltender Adin Hill, who otherwise enjoyed a strong night blocking 18 shots.
A goal by Cotter late in the 1st period gave VGK a 1-0 lead after one frame. During a power play early in the 2nd period, Hill gave up an uncontested, short-handed goal for Montreal to tie things up at 1. Vegas responds before the second intermission, William Carrier scoring off of a beautiful pass from Chandler Stephenson.
Vegas kept a tight grasp of that 1-point lead through the third inning until Montreal's Nick Suzuki snuck one in to tie things up in the final minutes. After a scoreless overtime, the Knights outdid the Canadiens in four rounds of a shootout with Jonathon Marchessault and Shea Theodore finding the net.
Going 9-0-1 in the month of October has the Stanley Cup champions showing that they mean business in their quest for a title repeat.
"We'll take it," Cotter told media after the game. "The record speaks for itself but obviously we want to play better in terms of dominating games and not making it close like this. We have better but at the end of the day you have to realize we're doing alright."
The Golden Knights will be back at home to face the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night. Puck drops at 7.